4.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Check
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.8A rectangular, seasonally flooded moat marks the remains of Hartley Court, a medieval moated homestead whose buried building remains and internal divisions hint at a once-active settlement.
This is a compact heritage discovery with a vivid landscape feature: a medieval homestead site still outlined by its moat in the Burnham Beeches setting. Its appeal is strongest for visitors who enjoy reading archaeology in the landscape; access details should be checked before making a special journey.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open mapBurnham, Slough, SL1 8PN
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
A short, archaeology-led stop focused on the surviving rectangular moat and the landscape evidence of the former homestead. Viewing from a trail is reported, but the exact route and access arrangements are not verified.
Things to do
Read the moat’s rectangular outline
From a permitted viewpoint, look for the seasonally flooded rectangular ditch that the source says retains much of its original appearance.
Under 1 hour
Imagine the homestead within
The archaeological account describes buried remains of several structures and evidence that the interior was divided into areas of activity. Their precise form is not established by the supplied visitor information.
Under 1 hour
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
Quick archaeology stop
- 01
Check current access arrangements before setting out.
- 02
From a permitted trail or viewing point, look for the rectangular outline of the moat.
- 03
Notice how the enclosed interior is described as retaining evidence of former structures and separate activity areas.
Verified history
The site is also known as Hartley Court. The supplied source says archaeologists date it broadly to between the 12th and 14th centuries, when moated houses were built as much for fashion as defence. It describes a rectangular ditch that still functions as a moat and buried remains of a complex of structures, with evidence of subdivisions inside the enclosure.
Folklore & legend
Local folklore says Hardicanut, son of Canute and king of England from 1040 to 1042, lived at the enclosure. The supplied source presents this as folklore, not verified history. It also records the alternative names Harlequin’s Palace and Hartley Court.
Hidden details
A moat that still holds water — The supplied account says the rectangular ditch floods seasonally and retains much of its original appearance. Its description of the moat frozen in February is a record of one particular winter, not a prediction for other visits.
The buried plan of a lost homestead — The interior is described as retaining buried remains of former structures and traces of separate activity areas, even where no buildings stand above ground.
When to go
· No specific time of day is supported by the supplied sources.
The moat is described as seasonally flooded. The source’s frozen February scene is a single documented winter visit and should not be treated as a recurring condition.
The ditch may be seasonally flooded. Check current conditions and access arrangements before visiting.
Worth pairing with
Burnham Beeches
The moat is identified in the supplied source as being in the woods at Burnham Beeches. The available evidence does not establish a specific route or visitor facilities linking a visit to the moat with a wider day out.
What to look for
Look for the rectangular line of the moat and, from permitted viewpoints, the enclosed interior where the source describes buried building remains and divisions into areas of activity. These remains are archaeological evidence, not necessarily visible standing structures.
The story
Archaeology; medieval settlement
Best time to go
Check before visiting; the moat is reported to flood seasonally.
The supplied source describes the moat as seasonally flooded and records it frozen in mid-February during one winter. That is a single observation, not a reliable seasonal forecast; check current conditions before visiting.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Walkers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The moat is associated with Burnham Beeches and is described as viewable from a trail. The supplied sources do not confirm access arrangements for the site itself; check before visiting and do not enter restricted or private areas. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
Check before visiting. The supplied Google Maps pin is a main-place pin, not an entrance or parking location.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
Access route, surfaces and accessibility are not confirmed. Check before visiting.
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Cost
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Water
Moat
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Hardicanut’s Moat
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
